Advent 2022 - Week 3
Jesus, Our Joy
One of the defining characteristics of Christ-followers is their joyful demeanor. On this third week of the Advent we’ll be exploring the meaning of Joy. Let’s encourage ourselves in the Lord as we bring forward to our hearts and minds how to have joy in the midst of our troubles and hardships.
I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
—John 16:33
This week we are invited to reflect on the joy we have access to, by grace, through our faith in Jesus.
Read
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased. 15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” 16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them. 21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.— Luke 2:8-21
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.” 3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!” 9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.
Matthew 2:1-12
Candle Ceremony
Joy (Elisabeth) by Poor Bishop Hooper
Who is this you carry?
Child, you shine like never before
Who is this? The Holy
Spirit that I've never known
Spirit that I've never known
Tell me how your journey
Brought me such heavenly gold?
Now I feel this baby
Turning like he now beholds
Some presence that he's never known
You are the most blessed of women
And your Child will be no different
Only more, only more
How could this scene happen?
That the mother of my Lord I'd find
From the moment your sweet greeting
Beheld my ears some joy inside
Burst forth in goodness, truth, and light
You are the most blessed of children
And Your life will be no different
Only more, only more
You are the most blessed of children
And Your life will be no different
Only more, only more
Watch
REFLECT
How did the video help you better understand the meaning of biblical joy?
How has God personally comforted and provided for you in the past, and how can those stories provide reasons for you to rejoice in the midst of your disappointments today?
Instead of replaying your past or current fears, shift your focus to God. What comes to mind as you remember God’s trustworthy character?
Jesus leads all who trust in Him into an experience of God’s love and promises. The path isn’t easy, but it leads to Life. What is one step you can take today to trust and follow him?